Monday Morning Quarterback: Profound change in thinking

Here we are after yet another Eagles home loss following a most surprising turn of events.

In their 17-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, up became down and black became white while everything started going in reverse. An offense that imploded under the NFC offensive player of the week, quarterback Nick Foles, suddenly became their weakest link, while their defense and special teams excelled.

In the words of the late Bill King, "there's nothing real in the world anymore."

Which brings us to this week's questions, the first and most important of which has been submitted by loyal Twitter follower Joseph Gutierrez.

Amazing how the thinking can change this much after one game, but Foles was so incredibly awful in his second start following Vick's hamstring injury that this new, almost perverse quarterback controversy has emerged as the most viable issue surrounding this team. Foles is out indefinitely with a concussion.

The matter was discussed at length during coach Chip Kelly's press conference today. But as expected, there were no definitive answers.

Kelly did say that Vick won't be rushed back if Foles is not cleared, which means that he would not hesitate to put Barkley back out there for his first start.

2. Has the Eagles' defense really turned the corner? After three straight weeks of holding opponents to three touchdowns or less, including a Cowboys juggernaut that had scored 31 points or more four times, this is another legitimate question.

Alas, there likely is no definitive answer to this one yet, either. Not enough data.

The previous two games came against winless opponents who have been struggling to get out of their own way on offense. This was followed by a game against a Cowboys team that, despite the ample resistance it encountered for the better part of three quarters, put together a methodical touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to all but slam the door shut.

Could just be that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had a coincidental sluggish start before finding his rhythm.

3. Is the NFC East title (and playoff berth that comes with it) still realistic for the Eagles?

Sadly, yes.

Sadly, because only in the NFL can a team as poor as the Eagles still not just be in the running for the playoffs, but to host a first-round game.

No matter what team wins this division, there's a good bet that at least three clearly better teams (if not a handful more) will not qualify for the postseason.

Worse yet, it will only serve to justify commissioner Roger Goodell's Manifest Destiny of ridiculous playoff expansion and eventual Pinky-and-the-Brain-style attempt at taking over the universe.